It's A Boy! First Elephant Calf Born in Dubbo's Taronga Zoo

The male calf was born yesterday at 3.50pm. Experienced mother Thong Dee delivered the calf in a behind-the-scenes paddock.

“This is tremendous news for the Australasian conservation breeding program for Asian Elephants. I’m delighted to report that mother and calf are doing well and veterinarians are happy with the calf’s progress at this early stage,”- NSW Environment Minister, Mark Speakman.

The calf was standing on its own within 30 minutes of being born and began suckling within hours.

“Thong Dee is doing a magnificent job and the successful birth is a tribute to the hard work of our keepers and veterinary staff. It’s a milestone achievement in the almost 40 year history of our zoo and we couldn’t be happier. Every birth is important as it helps to secure a future for this endangered species,”- Zoo Director, Matthew Fuller.

The calf was sired by Taronga’s bull, Gung, in Sydney prior to Thong Dee moving to Dubbo with three other elephants in 2015. The calf is the second for Thong Dee, who gave birth to Australia’s first elephant calf, Luk Chai, in 2009.

Keepers and vets were on hand throughout the labour and birth of the calf yesterday.

“Everything went very smoothly with the birthing process. Thong Dee and the calf are in good health and spending time together in the elephant barn. We have seen the calf suckling and we’re really pleased with the maternal behaviours we’re observing,”- Elephant Supervisor, Glenn Sullivan.

Coincidentally the birth occurred with both the 10th anniversary of the elephant herd’s arrival in Australia from Thailand in 2006 and the sixth birthday of Taronga’s third elephant calf, Tukta.

Taronga has now welcomed four elephant calves across both Zoos since the breeding program commenced 10 years ago, with three calves born in Sydney.

This successful breeding herd has been an important catalyst for Taronga’s work in the field with governments and conservation agencies in Asia to turn around the decline of Asian Elephants. Taronga also funds wildlife protection units and ranger stations in Thailand and Sumatra to help suppress elephant poaching.

Mother and calf will be given further time to bond behind-the-scenes before making their public debut. The Zoo will soon be announcing a competition to help choose a name for the calf.